Scottish Executive

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council to be held in Brussels on 22 and 23 November 2004.

Ross Finnie: I attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 22 and 23 November 2004 together with Margaret Beckett, Ben Bradshaw, Ian Pearson and Carwyn Jones.

  The Council, which opened on the first day in office of the new Commission, welcomed Commissioners Mariann Fischer-Boel, Markos Kyprianou and Joe Borg to their new posts.

  On Agriculture, the Presidency secured qualified majority support for a political agreement on a compromise text updating the current rules on the welfare of animals during transport. The UK supported the proposal which contains significant improvements to the current rules including a strengthening of the enforcement rules in Europe, stricter rules for journeys of more than eight hours and new rules for the transport of horses. The proposal also sets out a clear timetable for the review of the new rules together with a commitment to address the issue of journey times, space allowances and rest periods no later than four years after they have come into effect.

  The Council had a lengthy exchange of views on reform in the sugar sector, based on the Commission’s communication of July 2004. The Commission indicated that it would not bring forward formal proposals until May or June next year when the result of the EU’s appeal against a WTO panel ruling on the sugar regime had been received. The Commission would press for political agreement before the WTO Ministerial scheduled for Hong Kong in December 2005. A majority of member states were critical of the Commission’s approach thus far and argued for minimal change, principally aimed at maintaining production in all those areas of the EU where it is currently found. The UK argued that the current regime was unsustainable and that reform was inescapable. The EU needed to honour its external obligations and the UK welcomed the Commission’s commitment to bringing forward a draft action plan for assistance to the ACP countries by the end of the year.

  In a brief discussion of the rural development and CAP financing proposals, there was general support for the rural development measures although concerns were expressed on a number of specific issues such as the proposed structure for the new regulation and the treatment of less favoured areas. The UK stressed the importance of further transfers to Pillar 2 measures, the case for a more objective allocation of funds and the need for equitable treatment of the non-euro member states. Discussion will continue at official level.

  The Presidency drew attention to its initiative for member states to cooperate on agricultural research in order to avoid duplication and to maximise value for money. The UK supported this initiative and we expressed our readiness to cooperate with Luxembourg in taking it forward next year.

  Under Other Business, Estonia described its problems relating to a Russian ban on imports of plant material, Spain called for collaboration with Morocco in the field of animal health, Germany asked the Commission to bring forward legislation on the marketing of seeds of plant varieties of conservation importance and Slovakia requested funding under the natural disasters heading following gales in the High Tatras national park.

  On Fisheries, The Council exchanged views on the EU/Norway bilateral agreement. Negotiations over the 2005 agreement have gone well and a solution has been found to balancing the exchange of fishing possibilities between the EU and Norway. The UK supported the deal and looked forward to signing a deal which will allow vessels to fish in the Norway zone from 1 January 2005. Questions relating to transfers of anglerfish, Greenland halibut, Greenland shrimp and redfish remained.

  The Council held a policy debate about the reformed European Fisheries Fund (EFF) on the basis of a questionnaire drawn up by the Presidency. Discussion centred around some member states desire to reintroduce public subsidy for fleet modernisation and renewal. The Commission stood firm and rejected any return to subsidised fleet building. The UK supported the Commission. On other EFF issues, there is a general consensus that subsidiarity should be increased, particularly in relation to defining socio-economic measures to accompany fleet restructuring and the sustainable development of coastal areas. Aid for marketing and processing should not be limited to small and micro-sized enterprises but to small- and medium-sized enterprises, according to most member states.

  The Council reached political agreement on a presidency compromise by a qualified majority on the allocation of deep sea species to the new member states. The basis of the compromise was a change in the reference period on which quotas would be based from 1994–2003 to 1993–2002. The UK had argued that any allocation decision should have been based on the same reference period as the EU15. The Commission agreed with the Council that the allocations in question were made without prejudice to future allocation decisions for other deep sea stocks. Estonia, Poland, Latvia and the UK all abstained from the vote. The UK abstained due to concerns about the management of the fishery and as the proposal had not been able to complete parliamentary scrutiny.

  Discussions were held about management measures in the Baltic Sea with a number of member states expressing concerns about the severity of the Commission’s recovery plan.

  Under other business the EU/Comoros agreement was adopted.

Arts

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultants were used by the Scottish Arts Council and what level of expenditure was incurred on consultants in each of the last five years.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Arts Council. The information requested is not held centrally.

Carers

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11759 by Rhona Brankin on 9 November 2004, what the number of carers over 18 is in each local authority area represented as a percentage of the local authority population.

Rhona Brankin: The 2001 Census asked questions on unpaid care for the first time. The following table sets out the number of carers aged 18 and over, for each local authority area, irrespective of whether the person they care for lives with them. The numbers are slightly higher than those provided in response to S2W-11759, which provided figures for carers aged and 18 and over who are caring for others within the same household.

  Percentage of Carers, Caring within the Same or Different Households, Aged 18 and Over by Local Authority Area

  

 
All People 18 and Over
No of Carers Aged 18 and Over
Carers Aged 18 and Over as %
of Population


All People 18+
3,963,147
464,737
11.73


Aberdeen City
172,872
16,303
9.43


Aberdeenshire
173,042
16,413
9.48


Angus
85,198
9,201
10.8


Argyll and Bute
71,968
8,238
11.45


Scottish Borders
84,125
8,886
10.56


Clackmannanshire
36,759
4,630
12.6


West Dunbartonshire
72,215
9,469
13.11


Dumfries and Galloway
116,212
13,589
11.69


Dundee City
116,303
13,485
11.59


East Ayrshire
93,239
11,959
12.83


East Dunbartonshire
83,129
11,241
13.52


East Lothian
69,168
8,575
12.4


East Renfrewshire
67,690
8,917
13.17


Edinburgh, City of
366,095
37,714
10.3


Falkirk
113,235
14,387
12.71


Fife
271,940
32,666
12.01


Glasgow City
457,459
54,303
11.87


Highland
162,449
17,781
10.95


Inverclyde
65,575
7,924
12.08


Midlothian
61,848
7,902
12.78


Moray
67,166
6,524
9.71


North Ayrshire
105,071
12,951
12.33


North Lanarkshire
246,683
32,014
12.98


Orkney Islands
14,895
1,635
10.98


Perth and Kinross
105,776
11,744
11.1


Renfrewshire
134,941
17,408
12.9


Shetland Islands
16,589
1,882
11.34


South Ayrshire
88,982
11,043
12.41


South Lanarkshire
234,352
30,781
13.13


Stirling
67,561
7,863
11.64


West Lothian
119,769
14,599
12.19


Eilean Siar
20,841
2,710
13.00

Council Tax

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why convicted criminals automatically receive discounts on their council tax while serving their sentence whilst members of the armed forces cannot receive such a discount while abroad on active service and what action it will take to address this issue.

Mr Tom McCabe: Service personnel and reservists are treated in exactly the same way for council tax purposes as any other person who is required to live and work abroad. They are counted towards the council tax bill wherever their "sole or main residence" is. Responsibility for determining where someone’s "sole or main residence" is rests with the appropriate local authority.

  People serving custodial sentences are not working away from home so the same principle does not apply.

Culture

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place prior to the decision in respect of the location of the National Theatre; who was consulted, and whether it will publish the outcome of the consultation.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: Scottish ministers’ decision to name the Arts Factory in Greater Easterhouse as the preferred location for the National Theatre of Scotland administrative office followed discussions with the Scottish Arts Council and City of Glasgow Council. The location was chosen both for pragmatic reasons and in symbolic recognition of the significant part that the arts can play in the economic, social and cultural regeneration of disadvantaged communities.

Dentistry

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS dental practices have closed in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board area.

Rhona Brankin: The information is shown in the table below. Dental practices that ceased providing NHS general dental services for a temporary period only may be included in these figures. For comparison the number of dental practices in Scotland that have commenced providing NHS general dental services in the same period are also provided.

  The Number of Dental Practices in Scotland that Ceased Providing NHS General Dental Services1; Year Ending March

  

NHS Board Area
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Ayrshire and Arran
2
3
4
0
0


Borders
0
0
0
0
1


Argyll and Clyde
0
0
2
0
1


Fife
0
0
2
1
1


Greater Glasgow
2
2
4
4
2


Highland
3
4
1
3
2


Lanarkshire
1
0
1
1
0


Grampian
0
0
2
1
3


Orkney
0
0
1
0
1


Lothian
2
3
2
3
5


Tayside
2
2
1
2
6


Forth Valley
0
1
0
2
0


Western Isles
2
0
0
0
0


Dumfries and Galloway
0
2
0
0
0


Shetland
0
1
0
2
0


Scotland
14
18
20
19
22



  Source: MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System).

  Note: 1. Some dental practices may cease providing NHS general dental services permanently, while some may do so only temporarily.

  The Number of Dental Practices in Scotland that Began Providing NHS General Dental Services1; Year Ending March

  

NHS Board Area
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Ayrshire and Arran
4
0
1
1
0


Borders
1
0
2
1
1


Argyll and Clyde
2
1
0
2
8


Fife
0
0
0
2
0


Greater Glasgow
2
1
3
3
4


Highland
2
3
3
2
7


Lanarkshire
1
2
1
4
0


Grampian
1
0
2
0
3


Orkney
1
0
0
0
1


Lothian
1
4
1
3
3


Tayside
2
1
2
4
3


Forth Valley
1
1
2
0
0


Western Isles
0
0
0
0
0


Dumfries and Galloway
4
2
0
0
0


Shetland
1
1
2
2
1


Scotland
23
16
19
24
31



  Source: MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System).

  Note: 1. Some dental practices may cease providing NHS general dental services permanently, while some may do so only temporarily.

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the assurance given by the Deputy Minister for Education and Young People during Stage 3 consideration of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill on 1 April 2004 ( Official Report col 7342), what action has been taken regarding the consultation to ensure that all child care and child welfare legislation is consistent on the issue of children’s rights.

Euan Robson: The issue of the age of capacity in relation to children’s rights is wide-ranging and cuts across a number of portfolio interests. Scrutinising all legislation which impacts on children’s rights is a major undertaking about which internal discussions have commenced. The Cabinet Delivery Group on Children and Young People will consider the issue at its next meeting.

Environment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the effect of mercury emissions in Scotland and what action it is taking to meet the target of a 50% overall reduction in such emissions.

Lewis Macdonald: Research was carried out in 2001 under the UK Air Quality Research Programme, on behalf of the Scottish Executive and other UK Administrations, on atmospheric mercury and monitoring of pollutants, including mercury, around industrial sites across the UK. As far as mercury abatement is concerned, I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-12372, answered on 2 December 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Environment

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11878 by Ross Finnie on 15 November 2004, why nuclear sites are monitored by their owners instead of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA); why information about the numbers of staff involved in monitoring and cleaning up is not held centrally and where such information is held, who pays for the clean-up of contaminated land immediately outside the Hunterston A site; what the current status is of the contaminated land inside the Hunterston A site, and what the current status is of SEPA’s investigation regarding contaminated land outside the Hunterston A site.

Ross Finnie: Under the polluter-pays principle, the site operator is required to pay for regulation and for any clean up. The regulators are responsible for ensuring that the site operators are undertaking appropriate monitoring and will conduct reassurance monitoring as required. Staffing levels involved in such clean up and monitoring are a matter for the regulators, that is the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive.

  Work to determine the extent of contamination at Hunterston on and off the site is underway and information will be made available to the public. The costs of remediation of contamination, on or off the site, will fall to the operator.

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the clinical criteria for NHS-funded infertility treatment will be reviewed and whether any such review will be subject to public consultation.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the upper age limit for women to access NHS-funded infertility treatment will be revised and, if so, whether that age limit will be set at the point of treatment rather than at the point of diagnosis.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive is currently reviewing infertility services in Scotland.

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations it received from the 2003 consensus conference on the Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health regarding the upper age limit for female access to NHS-funded infertility treatment.

Mr Andy Kerr: At its 2003 consensus conference The Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health recommended that the upper age limit for accessing NHS-funded infertility treatment should be 41.

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations it received from the 2003 consensus conference on the Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health regarding the length of waiting times for NHS-funded infertility treatment.

Mr Andy Kerr: At its 2003 consensus conference The Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health made no recommendations regarding the length of waiting times for accessing NHS infertility services.

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that women approaching the upper age limit for NHS-funded infertility treatment are not excluded from treatment due to the length of waiting times.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to monitor and reduce waiting times for NHS-funded infertility treatment between the point of diagnosis and the beginning of the first cycle of treatment.

Mr Andy Kerr: Infertility treatment is not covered by a waiting time guarantee, therefore the management of waiting times for infertility treatment is a matter for NHS boards.

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what immediate action it will take to decrease levels of infertility.

Mr Andy Kerr: There are many factors contributing to fertility issues for couples. These can include medical disorders and lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet and obesity and sexually transmitted infections, which may lower fertility levels in both men and women. The Scottish Executive is addressing contributing factors such as these through our health promotion strategies around smoking, diet and activity and sexual health.

  The report of the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland (EAGISS, 2000) provides a robust evidence base for the management and delivery of infertility services. NHS boards have been asked to implement the recommendations from this report.

Fire Service

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what form its further consultation on the future of fire control rooms will take.

Hugh Henry: The issues raised in the responses on the report ranged from the loss of local knowledge through to challenges to the levels of costs and savings estimated. We acknowledge the relevance of these concerns and further work is taking place to examine the issues raised. Once this work has been done we will contact stakeholders.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of the most recent scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea which states that North Sea haddock mortality has decreased at the same time that North Sea cod mortality has increased.

Ross Finnie: The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advice on cod notes that there are uncertainties in its estimate of total cod catch (and therefore implied cod mortality) in 2003. The ICES advice has been examined by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF). It has concluded that while the methodology applied by ICES is sound, the nature of that methodology means that the estimate of fishing mortality for the most recent year in the time series (2003) is the least certain and likely to be an overestimate compared to the values estimated for earlier years.

  The Scottish Executive supports the STECF interpretation and, in addition, has provided ICES with evidence that our effort reduction on cod has been much closer to achieving our 65% target reduction in fishing mortality than may be implied by the ICES advice.

Freight

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken any action to encourage the transfer of Safeway’s contract for carriage of goods by rail to Somerfield PLC to ensure that there is less supermarket traffic on the roads in the north of Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: We remain committed to encouraging the transfer of freight from road to rail and water. Our commitment to modal shift is demonstrated by the recently announced budget of £44 million for the three years from April 2005 to March 2008 for the Freight Facilities and Track Access Grant schemes.

  We are in regular discussion with companies from across Scotland to promote the use of rail freight and we are aware of several companies including supermarket chains who are currently considering the use of rail as part of their distribution operations in the north of Scotland. These are, however, sensitive commercial matters and the final decision rests with individual companies.

Freight

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Somerfield PLC is being actively encouraged to deliver supplies to its existing stores in Dingwall, Alness and Invergordon by rail as well as to its recently-acquired Safeway compact stores in Wick and Thurso.

Nicol Stephen: We remain committed to encouraging the transfer of freight from road to rail and water and are in regular discussion with companies from across Scotland to promote the use of rail freight. These are, however, sensitive commercial matters and the final decision rests with individual companies.

G8 Summit

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what rules and procedures will be followed when decisions on procurement are made in relation to the hosting of the G8 Summit.

Mr Tom McCabe: The rules and procedures governing procurement in relation to the G8 Summit at Gleneagles Hotel in July next year are matters for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

G8 Summit

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11116 by Mr Tom McCabe on 1 November 2004 regarding the hosting of the G8 summit, what the current circulation is in Scotland of the Official Journal of the European Union .

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive does not hold information regarding the circulation of the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). However, OJEU is published on-line and can be accessed free of charge. Contract opportunities published in the Journal can also be accessed through a number of other sources including the European Information Centres, BiP Ltd and TendersDirect. Links to these organisations and OJEU are published on the Executive’s procurement website.

G8 Summit

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11116 by Mr Tom McCabe on 1 November 2004 regarding the hosting of the G8 summit, what national and local opportunities and events will be held aimed at showcasing Scottish businesses and products and raising the profile of Scotland internationally.

Mr Tom McCabe: The G8 Summit is a tremendous opportunity for Scotland to promote itself to an international audience and to demonstrate its capability of hosting prestigious events.

  Plans for Scottish activities connected to the summit are gathering pace and conversations have taken place with local authorities, who are working up plans for individual and collaborative events in the run-up to July 2005. A further meeting of stakeholders will take place early in the new year to co-ordinate plans and shape an overall events strategy. There are numerous opportunities to promote Scottish produce and commerce, and these are being communicated to the business community as they arise. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is also taking active steps to promote Scottish businesses at Gleneagles itself.

  Event Scotland has offered to produce promotional literature to inform the public, media and other visitors of the events on offer. This forms part of a broader media strategy to promote Scotland, which includes press visits, media packs, websites and a promotional campaign. A full Scottish summit events programme will be launched early in 2005.

G8 Summit

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11117 by Mr Tom McCabe on 1 November 2004 regarding the hosting of the G8 summit, how many of the activities currently being considered will be held in the Perth and Kinross Council area.

Mr Tom McCabe: Perth and Kinross Council is working with local partners to develop a programme of events linked to the G8 Summit that will take place throughout Perthshire between now and July 2005. The first of these, a reception to promote local trade links with Japan, took place after the successful rugby international at McDiarmid Park on 13 November 2004. The summit will offer real opportunities to promote local businesses, tourism and other attractions nationally and internationally.

  In addition to the local programme, the Scottish Executive is working with a broad range of external partners to deliver activities around the summit, some of which will take place in Perthshire. It is at the discretion of other organisations to organise G8-related events.

G8 Summit

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11806 by Mr Tom McCabe on 10 November 2004, what mechanisms are being used to keep businesses informed of procurement and sponsorship opportunities.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive and its agencies are working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who are responsible for procurement and sponsorship issues, to promote the interests of local businesses. The Scottish Executive is also liaising closely with the main business representative organisations and are also working closely with Perth and Kinross Council to help them prepare for the summit. In addition, the Enterprise Networks are working at national and local level to provide information and assistance to Scottish business on the G8 Summit as planning for the summit progresses.

Game (Scotland) Act

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government regarding its proposed review of the Game Acts, as reported in The Times on 12 October 2004; whether such a review is planned for the Game (Scotland) Acts and, if so, how, and when, it intends to bring forward any proposed changes to these acts.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the proposed review of the Game Acts, and is presently considering this issue.

Health and Safety

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how funeral directors are advised of bodies with infectious diseases in order to ensure safety and fulfil their duty of care to employees.

Mr Andy Kerr: This issue primarily relates to occupational health and safety, which is a reserved matter. However, the Health Services Advisory Committee, which reports to the Health and Safety Commission, in 2003 published guidance Safe Working and the Prevention of Infection in the Mortuary and Post-Mortem Room . The guidance gives advice to duty holders, including general precautions for undertakers and ambulance staff during delivery or removal of bodies to and from the mortuary.

  The Health and Safety Executive is also preparing guidance specifically aimed at the funeral trade on managing the risks of infection from handling human remains. This new guidance should be available in spring 2005.

Justice

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to respond to the consultation on Reduce, Rehabilitate, Reform – A Consultation on Reducing Reoffending in Scotland .

Cathy Jamieson: I am today publishing Supporting, Safer Stronger Communities: Scotland’s Criminal Justice Plan setting out my response to the consultation Reduce, Rehabilitate, Reform . The consultation clearly showed that significant changes at national and local level are needed to improve co-ordination and consistency in offender management services in Scotland. I will therefore bring forward legislation early next year to place a statutory duty on the Scottish Prison Service and local authorities to work closely together to manage offenders; to bring groups of local authorities together in new joint community justice authorities, and to provide the basis for greater co-ordination and information sharing between these lead bodies and other organisations with important roles in offender management.

  I will also take powers to set a national strategic framework for reducing reoffending, to set performance targets and to intervene if planning and performance are unsatisfactory.

  Full details of the proposals are available in the criminal justice plan copies of which have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34636). The plan will also be available on the Scottish Executive website on the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/cjp2004.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the per capita cost is of delivering mental health services in (a) NHS Argyll and Clyde, (b) NHS Greater Glasgow and (c) the Lomond division of NHS Argyll and Clyde.

Mr Andy Kerr: The cost per capita of delivering mental health services to residents of (a) NHS Argyll and Clyde is £165, and (b) NHS Greater Glasgow is £150. Information is not held centrally for (c) the Lomond division of NHS Argyll and Clyde.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to NHS Argyll and Clyde for mental health services in each year since 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: Apart from specific funding allocations, mental health services will be funded from an NHS board’s overall allocation.

  The Executive issues an overall allocation to NHS boards within which boards are expected to operate. Overall allocations are not made in relation to specific service provision such as mental health services. It is a matter for NHS boards to distribute their allocations to these services.

  The following table lists the specific mental health funding allocations made to NHS Argyll and Clyde since 1999.

  

Financial Year
Specific Allocation (£)
Source


1999-2000
79,000
Mental Health Development Fund


2000-01
410,000
Mental Health Development Fund


2001-02
560,000
Mental Health and Wellbeing Development Fund


2002-03
NIL
N/A


2003-04
74,340*
Improve Mental Health Services


2004-05
300,000
Mental Health Doing Well Programme


2004-05
354,000*
Improve Mental Health Services


2003-06
450,000#
Centre for Change and Innovation’s Doing Well by People with Depression programme



  Notes:

  *Funds paid "through" NHS boards for joint action with local authorities.

  #Total allocated throughout life of project (2003-06).

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been spent by NHS Argyll and Clyde on mental health services in each year since 1999, broken down by operating division.

Mr Andy Kerr: This is a matter for NHS Argyll and Clyde and the relevant information is available from the NHS board.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many podiatric surgeons are currently employed on a full-time basis by the NHS.

Mr Andy Kerr: Currently orthopaedic surgeons provide foot surgery in NHSScotland and there are no podiatric surgeons employed on a full-time basis at present.

  However, an MSc in podiatric surgery has recently been introduced run jointly by Glasgow Caledonian University and Queen Margaret University College and 20 students have registered in the first year.

NHS Staff

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time medical staff there were in the NHS Argyll and Clyde area in 2003.

Mr Andy Kerr: At 30 September 2003, there were 564.5 whole-time equivalent Medical and Dental staff employed within NHS Argyll and Clyde.

  A breakdown of this total number by grade can be found within Table B1 of the Workforce Statistics section of the ISD Scotland website at www.isdscotland.org/workforce along with other data on this staff group.

NHS Staff

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11033 by Mr Andy Kerr on 8 November 2004, how many allied health professionals were occupational therapists in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on staff in post in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at www.isdscotland.org/workforce .

  Section F gives details of Allied Health Professionals employed in NHS Scotland. In particular, tables F1 and F2 show the number of Occupational Therapists employed in each year since 1993, broken down by NHS board area. Figures are presented as headcount and whole-time equivalent (WTE). WTE adjusts headcount staff figures to take account of part-time staff. Latest available figures are at 30 September 2003.

  Further information on the statistics, including information on how the data are collected and notes to aid interpretation, is given in the background notes document on the Workforce Statistics homepage at www.isdscotland.org/workforce.

NHS Staff

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS employees’ salaries will be reduced as a result of rebanding under Agenda for Change.

Mr Andy Kerr: No NHS employee’s salary will be reduced as a result of rebanding under Agenda for Change. Protection arrangements will apply to ensure that no member of staff receives a reduction.

NHS Waiting Times

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median number of days has been in 2004 to wait for in-patient treatment in the NHS Argyll and Clyde area.

Mr Andy Kerr: The median wait for NHS Argyll and Clyde residents for in-patient/day case admission during the year ending 31 March 2004 was 39 days*.

  Median waiting times for in-patient/day case treatment by NHS board of residence and NHS board of treatment, by quarter, are published on ISD Scotland’s NHSScotland Acute Activity, Waiting Times and Waiting Lists website which can be accessed at http://www.isdscotland.org/waiting_times.

  The most recent update of this website took place on 25 November. This update includes data for the period to 30 September 2004.

  *Source: SMR01; ISD Scotland; provisional figure.

Population

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will produce Scottish population projections to 2073 and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Tom McCabe: The choice of projection period reflects user demand and the increasing uncertainty of projections as the period is extended, particularly for smaller populations. However, the Government Actuary’s Department and the General Register Office for Scotland will be consulting next summer about the content of the next set of population projections. The period of the projections will be part of that consultation, because of the increasing interest in long-term issues such as pensions and health care.

Procurement

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what policies and measures it has in place to promote the local procurement of food by schools, hospitals and care homes.

Mr Tom McCabe: It is Executive policy that purchasers should take account of healthy eating objectives when awarding contracts for food and catering services. By focussing on high quality, traditional and seasonal produce, we can help Scottish food suppliers compete for public contracts.

  At the Scottish Public Procurement Conference in May the Finance Minister launched guidelines on incorporating sustainable development into public procurement of food and catering services. This guidance, which is available on the Scottish Procurement Directorate website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/FCSD/PCSD-POL/00017839/susdevguide.aspx. gives guidance to public procurement officials, including those in local authorities and health boards, on how issues such as local food can be incorporated within their procurement procedures without falling foul of European procurement regulations.

  The Executive itself does not buy food other than through its catering contractor. Decisions on the procurement of food by schools, hospitals and care homes are ultimately the responsibility of those bodies, and not the Executive.

Prostitutes

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Expert Group on Prostitution will report.

Hugh Henry: I expect to receive the Expert Group on Prostitution’s report before the end of this year.

Public Appointments

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations from the First Report of the Select Committee on Public Administration, published on 10 February 1998, it has put in place, with particular regard to the recommendation on political activity.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Government’s response to the report was submitted to the Committee in April 1998 and can be found at:

  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmpubadm/723s3/pas302.htm.

Public Appointments

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the period over which candidates for public appointments are required to declare their political activity from five to 10 years and whether it will now ask such candidates about their membership of a political party or club.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive is required to follow the arrangements for declaring political activity contained in the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland. Consideration of any changes to these arrangements is a matter for the Commissioner.

Public Private Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1353 by Tavish Scott on 29 July 2003, how much its interest in Partnerships UK is now worth and how that valuation was calculated.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive’s shares in Partnerships UK (PUK) are held in a share category established specifically for a holding by ministers and are not for open market trading. PUK has a private sector classification and financial information is available from Companies House on www.companies-house.gov.uk .

Quality of Life

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11684 by Mr Tom McCabe on 8 November 2004, how much funding was allocated to each local authority under the quality of life fund in (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04.

Mr Tom McCabe: The table below shows the allocation of Quality of Life funding to local authorities for the years 2002-03 and 2003-04.

  

Local Authority
(a) 2002-03
Allocation £95 Million
(b) 2003-04
Allocation £50 Million


Aberdeen, City
3.581
1.877


Aberdeenshire
4.009
2.112


Angus
2.026
1.067


Argyll and Bute
1.807
0.952


Clackmannanshire
0.862
0.454


Dumfries and Galloway
2.832
1.495


Dundee
2.900
1.524


East Ayrshire
2.227
1.169


East Dunbartonshire
1.879
0.990


East Lothian
1.544
0.822


East Renfrewshire
1.572
0.827


Edinburgh, City
7.552
3.987


Eilean Siar
0.834
0.431


Falkirk
2.496
1.320


Fife
6.264
3.311


Glasgow
12.511
6.526


Highland
4.277
2.240


Inverclyde
1.645
0.866


Midlothian
1.445
0.757


Moray
1.543
0.816


North Ayrshire
2.570
1.355


North Lanarkshire
5.883
3.103


Orkney
0.571
0.296


Perth and Kinross
2.415
1.280


Renfrewshire
3.185
1.692


Scottish Borders
2.050
1.083


Shetland
0.740
0.385


South Ayrshire
2.058
1.085


South Lanarkshire
5.473
2.879


Stirling
1.587
0.840


West Dunbartonshire
1.911
1.006


West Lothian
2.751
1.453

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether provisions of the Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedule 5) Order 2004 will permit Scottish ministers to exercise certain powers of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive set out in the Transport Act 1968 and the Railways Act 1993.

Nicol Stephen: The provisions of the Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedule 5) Order 2004 are intended, once made, to enable the Scottish Parliament to legislate to transfer the rail transport powers of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive set out in the Transport Act 1968 and the Railways Act 1993 to the Scottish ministers.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the intention expressed in the Explanatory Memorandum of the Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedule 5) Order 2004 "That the devolution of legislative competence to the Scottish Parliament, via this instrument, will enable the Scottish Parliament to transfer the relevant rail functions to the Scottish Ministers" is adequately reflected in the wording of the draft instrument which provides for all functions of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive under Part II of the Transport Act 1998 and sections 32 to 36 of the Railways Act 1993 to be transferred to the Scottish ministers.

Nicol Stephen: The intention in the explanatory memorandum is accurate.

Rates

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its commitment to a strategy for pervasive and affordable broadband coverage, what levels of rateable value are ascribed to telecommunications cables in the primary control of network operators other than BT and what comparative information it has on the values ascribed to equivalent cables controlled by the same operators in England.

Mr Tom McCabe: The following is a summary of the current total rateable values for the major operators other than BT:

  

Cable & Wireless (Mercury)
£3.15 million


THUS
£2.7 million


Telewest (includes cable TV)
£4.3 million


NTL (includes cable TV)
£2.5 million



  Information on rateable values of network operators in England is not held centrally.

Rates

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3782 by Mr Andy Kerr on 14 November 2003, whether it has now made an assessment in respect of the effect of differences in rateable values between Scotland and England on its initiatives to extend the availability of broadband.

Mr Tom McCabe: The valuation assessor has advised that there is no difference in the approach in arriving at the rateable value of fixed line rental networks between Scotland and England. No valuation will therefore exceed the valuation of an equivalent network in England. Discussions on individual valuations continue between the Scottish assessors and the network operators. Established appeal procedures exist for ratepayers if they disagree with the rateable value assigned to their property by the assessor.

  The Executive is committed to delivering affordable broadband access to every community in Scotland and aims to achieve this by the end of 2005.

Rates

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out a review of the level of rateable values in respect of telecommunications cables similar to that carried out in England and Wales and, if so, when such a review will be undertaken.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has no current plans to do so.

Renewable Energy

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has established the maximum level of wind generation capacity as a percentage of total available generation capacity that will allow the operators of the grid system to guarantee security of supply at existing levels.

Mr Jim Wallace: No. However, we have commissioned a study, being carried out by the University of Edinburgh in conjunction with the Scottish grid owners, which will enable an understanding of the full implications to the electricity network of the growth in, primarily intermittent, renewable generation and how this might be managed in order to maintain a secure and stable power system with sufficient reserve margins across Scotland. This study is due to be completed in spring 2005.

Renewable Energy

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of spinning reserve it has calculated in setting renewable generation targets to guarantee security of supply at existing levels.

Mr Jim Wallace: No such calculations have been made.

Renewable Energy

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what savings in CO 2 emissions it has calculated in setting renewable generation targets and whether it has taken account of spinning reserve emissions.

Mr Jim Wallace: CO 2 emissions savings could be up to 16 million tonnes by 2020, if the targets are met in full. The actual savings would depend on which fuels are displaced by renewables. Spinning reserve was not taken into account.

Renewable Energy

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any calculations it has carried out in respect of the saving of CO 2 emissions as a consequence of the 2010 and 2020 renewable energy targets.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Climate Change Programme is being revised and we expect it to be published by June next year. This document will cover all related Scottish policies, and we intend to include calculations for CO 2 savings for renewable energy.

Renewable Energy

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has carried out, in setting renewable generation targets, into the current circumstances surrounding wind generation in Denmark and Germany.

Mr Jim Wallace: We have not undertaken any specific study, although we keep up-to-date in all important areas of renewable energy developments.

Scottish Executive Funding

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has allocated for external relations in each of the next three financial years, broken down by department.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive’s spending proposals for each department over the next three financial years are detailed in the Draft Budget 2005-06 document which is available on the Scottish Executive website. Spending plans for international relations are set out in table 10.07.

Scottish Executive Funding

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the spending stream "International Relations" under the level 3 heading "Committees, Commissions and Other Expenditure" in Draft Budget 2005-06 will be used for.

Mr Tom McCabe: The International Relations budget line will be used for: promoting Scotland's international image overseas and will help to attract new Scots to live and work in Scotland; increasing the Executive's engagement in EU activities, and supporting Scotland's contribution to international development.

Scottish Executive Staff

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff have been employed in each of its departments in each year since 1999 and how many such staff have been employed on temporary contracts in each such year, shown also as a percentage of total staff.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information available on the number of (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff employed by the Scottish Executive in each of its core departments in each year since 1999 and the number and percentage of such staff employed on temporary contracts in each such year is set out in the tables below and is provided as a snap shot of staff in post at the 1 of April in each of the years. In addition some casual staff were employed through employment agencies. Detailed information for such staff for the period requested is not available.

  Number of Full-Time Equivalent Staff in Post in Scottish Executive Core Departments1 April 1999

  


Full-Time Staff
Part-Time Staff
All Staff
Staff Employed By Scottish Executive On Temporary Contracts


(Number)
(%)


Total
3,658
199.8
3,857.8
303.5
7.9%


Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries
967
39.8
1,006.8
88.7
8.8%


Central Services
1,002
37.9
1,039.9
137.9
13.3%


Centrally Managed Staff
67
7.4
74.4
0
0.0%


Development Department
476
20.2
496.2
15
3.0%


Education and Industry Department
553
43.6
596.6
18
3.0%


Health Department
235
20.5
255.5
14.5
5.7%


Home Department
358
30.4
388.4
29.4
7.6%



  1 April 2000

  


Full-Time Staff
Part-Time Staff
All Staff
Staff Employed By Scottish Executive On Temporary Contracts


(Number)
(%)


Total
3,813
205.6
4,018.6
146.6
3.6%


Central Services
787
36.1
823.1
16.6
2.0%


Centrally Managed Staff
202
8.2
210.2
9.9
4.7%


Development Department
495
25.3
520.3
6
1.2%


Education Department
335
23.4
358.4
4
1.1%


Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department
277
20.9
297.9
7
2.3%


Executive Secretariat
265
10.7
275.7
15.4
5.6%


Health Department
292
19
311
13
4.2%


Justice Department
182
21.9
203.9
8.8
4.3%


Rural Affairs Department
978
40.1
1,018.1
65.9
6.5%



  1 April 2001

  


Full-Time Staff
Part-Time Staff
All Staff
Staff Employed By Scottish Executive On Temporary Contracts


(Number)
 (%)


Total
3,849
228.5
4,077.5
177.1
4.3%


Central Services
800
46.8
846.8
35.5
4.2%


Centrally Managed Staff
95
2.7
97.7
3
3.1%


Development Department
481
27.5
508.5
8
1.6%


Education Department
361
30.8
391.8
8.8
2.2%


Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Dept
290
23.9
313.9
9.5
3.0%


Executive Secretariat
278
14.9
292.9
21.3
7.3%


Health Department
319
18.3
337.3
6.5
1.9%


Justice Department
196
22.9
218.9
11.4
5.2%


Rural Affairs Department
1,029
40.7
1,069.7
73.1
6.8%



  1 April 2002

  


Full-Time Staff
Part-Time Staff
All Staff
Staff Employed By Scottish Executive On Temporary Contracts


(Number)
(%)


Total
4,060
257.1
4,317.1
274.3
6.4%


Centrally Managed Staff
91
4.3
95.3
5
5.2%


Corporate Services
628
41.8
669.8
52.2
7.8%


Development Department
539
32.2
571.2
22.6
4.0%


Education Department
290
25.4
315.4
25.8
8.2%


Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Dept
319
23.7
342.7
18.9
5.5%


Executive Secretariat
292
17.5
309.5
22.5
7.3%


Finance
135
9.1
144.1
1
0.7%


Health Department
355
20.8
375.8
5.5
1.5%


Justice Department
221
29.1
250.1
17.1
6.8%


Ministerial Group
83
2.2
85.2
2
2.3%


Rural Affairs Department
1,107
51
1,158
101.7
8.8%



  1 April 2003

  


Full-Time Staff
Part-Time Staff
All Staff
Staff Employed By Scottish Executive On Temporary Contracts


(Number)
(%)


Total
4,164
274.8
4,438.8
206.3
4.6%


Centrally Managed Staff
92
5.4
97.4
4
4.1%


Corporate Services
600
43.4
643.4
40.7
6.3%


Development Department
472
20.6
492.6
18.9
3.8%


Education Department
255
25.5
280.5
21
7.5%


Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department
319
26
345
5.7
1.7%


Environment and Rural Affairs Department
1,073
54
1127
63
5.6%


Finance and Central Services Department
530
38.1
568.1
20.6
3.6%


Health Department
363
23.9
386.9
9
2.3%


Justice Department
205
24.2
229.2
7.9
3.4%


Legal and Parliamentary Services
168
11.5
179.5
14.5
8.1%


Ministerial Group
87
2.2
89.2
1
1.1%



  1 April 2004

  


Full-Time Staff
Part-Time Staff
All Staff
Staff Employed By Scottish Executive On Temporary Contracts


(Number)
(%)


Total
4,188
291.7
4,479.7
168
3.8%


Centrally Managed Staff
74
3.2
77.2
1
1.3%


Development Department
305
13.8
318.8
13.7
4.3%


Education Department
258
23.4
281.4
12
4.3%


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Dept
481
38.2
519.2
5
1.0%


Environment and Rural Affairs Department
1,073
56.5
1,129.5
61.7
5.5%


Finance and Central Services Department
533
40
573
12.6
2.2%


Health Department
364
32
396
11
2.8%


Justice Department
229
24.4
253.4
9
3.6%


Legal and Parliamentary Services
168
14.2
182.2
14
7.7%


Office Of The Permanent Secretary
703
46
749
28
3.7%

Scottish Executive Staff

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff have been employed on temporary contracts in each of its departments in each year since 1999, broken down by length of time spent on a temporary contract

Mr Tom McCabe: The information available on staff who have been employed on temporary contracts in the Scottish Executive core departments each year since 1999, broken down by length of time spent on a temporary contract is shown in the tables below. Due to the restructuring of departments since 1999 is not possible to provide the information requested broken down by individual departments prior to 2003-04.

  Some employees have had more than one temporary contract. As each contract is recorded separately the table reflects the actual number of contracts rather than the number staff.

  Temporary Contracts by Length of Service Between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2000

  

 
All
Less than 3 months
3 to less than 6 months
6 to less than 9 months
9 to less than 12 months
1 to less than 2 years
2 years and over


Total 
603
274
151
73
46
44
15



  Temporary Contracts by Length of Service Between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001

  

 
All
Less than 3 months
3 to less than 6 months
6 to less than 9 months
9 to less than 12 months
1 to less than 2 years
2 years and over


Total 
362
143
70
51
40
33
25



  Temporary Contracts by Length of Service Between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002

  

 
All
Less than 3 months
3 to less than 6 months
6 to less than 9 months
9 to less than 12 months
1 to less than 2 years
2 years and over


Total 
582
189
169
90
59
50
25



  Temporary Contracts by Length of Service Between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2003

  

 
All
Less than 3 months
3 to less than 6 months
6 to less than 9 months
9 to less than 12 months
1 to less than 2 years
2 years and over


Total 
518
130
96
90
73
106
23



  Temporary Contracts by Length of Service Between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004

  

 
All
Less than 3 months
3 to less than 6 months
6 to less than 9 months
9 to less than 12 months
1 to less than 2 years
2 years and over


Total 
405
112
71
50
71
59
42


Development Department
33
4
6
6
7
4
6


Education Department
42
12
6
7
10
5
2


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department
20
7
1
6
4
1
1


Environment and Rural Affairs Department
128
49
31
11
11
20
6


Finance and Central Services Department
32
6
6
6
9
3
2


Health Department
22
2
5
4
6
2
3


Justice Department
14
3
2
0
2
3
4


Legal and Parliamentary Services
26
1
5
4
10
5
1


Office of the Permanent Secretary
88
28
9
6
12
16
17

Scottish Executive Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its staff costs were in respect of (a) accommodation, (b) travel, (c) transport, (d) stationery and (e) hospitality in each department in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is set out in the following table. Restructuring of Departments in the Scottish Executive over the period affects some of the year on year comparisons.

  

Year
Dept
Corporate Services2 (inc OPS and LPS)
FCSD
ED
DD
ELLD
HD
JD
ERAD
Total


(£000)
(£000)
(£000)
(£000)
(£000)
(£000)
(£000)
(£000)
(£000)


1999-2000 (Outturn)
Accomm1,3
18,259
127
1
0
0
0
957
0
19,344


Travel
1,232
593
184
369
376
253
322
1,690
5,019


Transport
305
15
8
54
17
1
4
100
504


Stationery
227
167
112
102
82
122
48
251
1,111


Hospitality
54
100
38
29
23
46
10
40
340


2000-01 (Outturn)
Accomm4
19,741
58
0
0
4
0
758
11
20,572


Travel
1,035
614
238
355
354
355
327
1,595
4,873


Transport
340
16
6
44
17
0
5
88
516


Stationery
195
173
132
120
25
116
66
270
1,097


Hospitality
60
129
44
38
76
62
17
40
466


2001-02 (Outturn)
Accomm5
21,484
55
0
0
0
0
923
132
22,594


Travel
921
688
271
410
338
389
348
1,866
5,231


Transport
398
32
1
40
12
1
3
89
576


Stationery
203
159
88
94
60
140
133
399
1,276


Hospitality
58
215
31
32
36
55
12
38
477


2002-03 (Outturn)
Accomm6
15,476
102
1
27
0
0
74
1
15,681


Travel
1,060
725
372
439
313
528
381
1,625
5,443


Transport
286
12
3
37
13
0
4
78
433


Stationery
260
162
95
130
62
158
77
305
1,249


Hospitality
20
195
58
49
36
72
22
51
503


2003-04 (Outturn)
Accomm
15,537
146
0
1
0
1
69
2
15,756


Travel
944
643
418
553
516
477
406
1,669
5,626


Transport
254
18
1
65
13
0
9
114
474


Stationery
239
127
87
97
63
156
91
255
1,115


Hospitality
99
178
79
67
38
86
32
65
644


2004-05 (Budget)
Accomm
16,420
151
22
5
0
0
82
1
16,681


Travel
1,592
466
354
304
514
410
379
1,905
5,924


Transport
273
27
23
37
1
4
3
119
487


Stationery
315
109
105
57
72
166
83
241
1,148


Hospitality
127
56
71
36
51
83
41
69
534



  Notes:

  1. Most accommodation costs are managed centrally and not split between departments.

  2. OPS is Office of the Permanent Secretary; LPS is Legal and Parliamentary Services.

  3. Corporate Services includes £3,525,000 for refurbishment of St Andrews House.

  4. Corporate Services includes £4,080,000 for refurbishment of St Andrews House.

  5. Corporate Services includes £5,811,000 for refurbishment of St Andrews House.

  6. Justice Department's accommodation figure is less than previous years because the property costs of Accountant in Bankruptcy and other justice related bodies are now met from the Justice programme.

Scottish Executive Staff

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many parliamentary counsel it has employed in each year since 1999 and what plans it has to recruit more counsel.

Mr Tom McCabe: In each of the years 1999 to 2004 the maximum numbers of parliamentary counsel employed in the Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel (OSPC) was as follows:

  

1999
8


2000
9


2001
9


2002
10


2003
12


2004
12



  Those figures do not include the secondment from OSPC to the Scotland Office of a drafter who prepares the Scottish content of Westminster legislation.

  It is planned to recruit two further counsel next year. The two most senior members of OSPC are due to retire early in 2006.

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recourse exists for members of the public who are dissatisfied with the conclusions of an investigation of their complaint by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman service represents the ultimate point in the public sector complaints system in Scotland. Anyone who remains dissatisfied after the Ombudsman has concluded her consideration of their complaint has the option of pursuing the matter in the courts.

Smoking

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the (a) results of its consultation on smoking in public places, (b) results of its survey of people’s reactions to a smoking ban in pubs and (c) calculations used to inform the University of Aberdeen’s study International Review of the Health and Economic Impact of the Regulation of Smoking in Public Places , published in November 2004.

Mr Andy Kerr: The summary of consultation responses was published on the Scottish Executive’s website on 16 November and the summary of the results of the opinion survey on 17 November. Both can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/smoking . Summaries of the three research reports commissioned in support of the consultation, published on 10 November, can also be accessed there. The full reports of the consultation and the research commissioned, including the University of Aberdeen’s International Review, will be published on the website in December.

Sport

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what development grant aid is provided to sports organisations, showing the level of grant provided and the organisations in receipt of the grant.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: Annual development grant aid is provided by  sportscotland to governing bodies of sport in Scotland. This information is published in  sportscotland’s annual reports. The report is laid annually before Parliament and copies can be obtained from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34386 – A Running Commentary ) or accessed online via  sportscotland’s website, www.sportscotland.org.uk .

  If the member wishes information about a specific body or category of body, sportscotland would be pleased to assist if it can.

Sport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria have been issued to local authorities regarding the standard of pitches to be included in PPP/PFI projects; what specific directions have been given with regard to synthetic/artificial turf; whether directions will be updated to ensure that pitches meet FIFA specified standards, and what information it has regarding artificial pitches laid through PPP/PFI projects and whether such pitches meet new FIFA standards.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive does not issue advice or collect information on pitches. The inclusion of pitches or other playing field facilities in school building projects, whether through PPP or other forms of procurement, is a matter for local authorities.  Sportscotland is currently preparing guidance on standards for school playing fields which they expect to publish early next year.

Wildlife

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions are permitted under section 14 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 which would otherwise be an offence under the act.

Lewis Macdonald: Under section 14 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, where a person performs an act at the request of or under the authority of the Deer Commission for Scotland in pursuance of a control agreement; a control scheme; or section 10 of the act, the person shall not be liable to be proceeded against under the act.

  These actions are:

  1. Taking, killing or injuring deer in close season.

  2. Taking or killing deer at night (under section 10).

  3. Offences connected with use of vehicles and aircraft.

  It should be noted that section 14 does not provide any exemptions from the offence under section 17(3) of killing or injuring deer other than by shooting, nor from the requirements of wider animal welfare legislation.

Wildlife

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance there is, or is planned, regarding the use of powered vehicles to drive deer.

Lewis Macdonald: The Deer Commission for Scotland, under section 37(5)(b) of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, is required to prepare and from time to time, revise, a code of practice for the use of vehicles for the purposes of deer management. A copy of the current code is available from the Deer Commission. A revision of the code is under consideration by the commission.

  In addition, Best Practice guidance is being prepared on the use of powered vehicles in deer management.